Torpedo launching device



Jan. 20, 1953 s. c. MILLER TORPEDO LAUNCHING DEVICE 6 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Feb. 24, 1945 INVENToR STUART MILLER BY QL ATTORNEY Jan. 20, 1953 S. C. MILLER TORPEDO LAUNCHING DEVICE 6 Sheets-Sheet I5 Filed Feb. 24, 1945 .ov h Q vv @wiwi n INVENTOR sruARrc. M/LER BY MQ ATTORNEY Jan. 2o, 1953 s. c. WLLER 2,625,899

TORPEDO LAUNCHING DEVICE Filed Feb. 24, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 1 t sruAnraM/LLER D o BY @MJL-l- ATTORNEY Jan. 20, 1953 s. c. MlLLER TORPEDO LAUNCHING DEVICE Filed Feb. 24, 1945 6 Sheets-Shea?l 5 ATTORNEY Jan. 20, 1953 s. c. MILLER A 2,625,899

TORPEDO LAUNCHING DEVICE Filed Feb. 24, 1945 .6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR sruAm' c. MILLER BY @WW ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 20, 1953 TORPEDO LAUNCHING DEVICE Stuart C. Miller, Washington, D. C., assignor to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy Application February 24, 1945, Serial No. 579,641

(Granted under Title 35, U. S. Code (1952), sec. 266) 6 Claims.

lThis invention relates tov torpedo tube constructions and particularly to improved firing means therefor.

An important object of the invention is to provide improved pneumatically operable firing means incorporating interconnected stop and tripping mechanisms arranged for automatic sequential operation and so arranged that a torpedo housed in a torpedo tube may be red by a single simple operation, but positive and effective protection is provided against accidental dislodgment or release of the torpedo from the tube, and against unwanted actuation of the release mechanism by which operation of the torpedo engines is initiated.

Another object is to provide such an automatic ring and control mechanism which is simple and reliable in construction and rugged in character, which is compact and of light weight, which, utilizes no explosive in the discharge of the torpedo, and which is suitable for use upon relatively small, light vessels, such as motor torpedo boats.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings forming a part hereof.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view corresponding to a longitudinal vertical sectional elevation showing the principal components of my improved firing system and diagrammatically indicating the relationship thereof to a torpedo to be red, the parts being shown in the positions Ithey occupy prior to ring.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the parts in the positions they occupy after the firing sequence has been initiated by release of the vent valve.

Fig. 3 is a similar diagrammatic view showing the parts in the positions they occupy as the sequence of ring operations is completed.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of my improved mechanism shown mounted upon a torpedo tube, the forward portion of the tube and the air tanks being partially broken away.

Fig. 5 is a substantially diametric vertical sectional view of the ring valve taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the ring valve housing. l

Fig. 7 is a perspective View of the firing lever and interconnected portions of the vent valve stem and piston rod of the hydraulic control receiver.

Fig. 8 and Fig. 9 are transverse sectional views taken substantially on the lines 8-8 and 9-9 re- 2 spectively of Fig. 5 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 10 is a substantially central vertical sectional View of the vent valve and hydraulic control receiver, together with the firing lever and connected portions of the mechanism taken on line lil-lll of Fig.- 8.

Fig. 11 is a sectional perspective view of the tripping mechanism.

Fig. 12 is a sectional perspective view of the stop mechanism, similar to Fig. l1; Figs. 11 and 12 being mounted in the relative positions they occupy in service. The torpedo tube and a portion of the hull of the torpedo are also illustrated in these views, although intermediate parts are broken away.

Fig. 13 is an exploded perspective view of the stop mechanism, partially broken away.

Fig. 14 is a substantially central vertical sectional view of the tripping mechanism, taken on line I4-l4 of Fig. 4, showing the same prior to release and fragmentarily illustrating a torpedo and its starting gear, the starting gear being shown connected to the tripping mechanism.

Referring now to the drawings, the principal components and their functioning will be described prior to a detailed exposition of constructional Vfeatures of a preferred embodiment. In connection with the general arrangement, reference is made to Figs. 1, 2 and 3. Each of these figures shows at the left the Firing Mechanism (so labeled in Fig. 1), at the right the Stop Mechanism (also so labeled in Fig. l) and intermediate these the Tripping Mechanism (also so labeled in Fig. 1).

The firing mechanism includes a source of air under pressure, illustrated as a tank l, together with elements which are arranged to carry the impulse air charge and admit the air to the barrel of the torpedo tube when it is desired to launch the torpedo therefrom.

The stop mechanism comprises a mechanical agency by which the torpedo is positively held in the tube until the instant of firing.

The tripping mechanism is a means by which the starting gear of the torpedo is actuated to start the torpedo engine and the other components within the torpedo.

The torpedo l is normally held in the tube 2 by. means of the stop piston pin 3. In its retaining position the pin 3 projects into a socket 8| in the hull of the torpedo. The torpedo starting gear is shown as of a known type in which starting is eflected by meansof a toggle element 5,

which is pulled entirely clear of the torpedo to start the latter.

The operation of the starting gear includes the actuation of an initial sprining mechanism which brings the spin rate of the gyro to approximately 20,000 revolutions per minute before the torpedo is launched from the tube.

The stop mechanism and the tripping mech.- anism are operated by air and air is also used to project the torpedo from the tube. Air is normally prevented from entering the tube by a firing valve, the body of which is designated 8;, the valve itself comprising a cup-shaped element 9 loosely slidable in the bore of the valve body, the t being such that air may leak past the same. at a desired rate, permitting the pressure in the space above the valve to build up to that in the tank and so retain the valve upon its seat. Air for actuation of the stop mechanism and tripping-v mechanism is taken from the firing valve body above the valve cup 9, a primary vent valve |12 being provided to control the actuation of` the stop and tripping mechanisms. The valve is actuable by a ring lever I4 operable either manually or by means of a hydraulic control 11- ceiver 13.

When the primary vent valvev is open, the air pressure existing in the intercommunicating firing valve and vent valve housings is quickly communicated to the space beneaththe stop piston or secondary ventvalve 20 through the vent line 22. Such pressure lifts the stop piston sufficiently to free the stop pin, 3 from. the tOITDQdO. and at the same time to pull. the torpedo toggle 5 upwardly and start the torpedo engine. The upward movement of the stop piston` 20. is transmitted to the torpedo tripping mechanism through a link 25. The pressure in the closed system which includes vent line 22 and stop` piston body 2| rises somewhat when the valve I2 is opened due to` the corresponding fall in the valve casings 8, I0, but remains sufcient in 8 and Ill to maintain the firing valve cup 9 upon its seat until the stop. piston 2Il has risen far enough to free the vent ports 21. When piston clears ports 21, however, an effective vent; is created, and the total downward pressure above the firing valve cup falls below the; Upward pressure exerted bytheair ilflthetankA upon that portion of the bottom surfaceof. the; cup which is exposed to tank pressure. The. cup then rises,A admitting air to the barrel 0f the wreed@ tube and projecting the torpede.. which. has, already been freed and started by the lifting of the stop piston pin 3 and torpedo toggle 5, in the manner previously described. As shown in 12,y a latch element 30 in the stop valve body enters a groove 3| in the s top piston whenA the latter has risen suilicently lto permit this, the arrangement of the latch element and groove being such that the piston is permitted to rise to a position completely freeing the vent orifices 21 during exertion of suilicient pressure upon the under surface of the piston. The groove is wider than the latch element to provide a slight overdrive of the piston 20 when lifted. When the pressure falls away due to the venting action, the piston rests on the latch but only partially re-covers the vent orifices so as to leave an opening of effective size to complete the ventingy action and to hold the stop pin 3 retracted' from the torpedo tube.

A preferred arrangement rofthe components with respect to a. torpedo tube 4. upon-which they.y are mounted is best shown. in Fig. 4. Two air.

tanks 1 are provided although they act as one. extending longitudinally of and near the top of the tube, the tanks being connected near their rear extremities to the body of the firing valve. which is mounted on top of the tube near the breech and between the tanks. The tank couplings 4I (Fig. 8) communicate with a common air passage 42 (Fig. 6) cast in the firing valve body. Passage 42 opens into the valve chamber at Y beside the skirted portion of the piston cup 9. rlhe underside of the cup carries a plastic insert 43 which bears against the valve seat 44 when the firingy valve is closed, the seat surrounding an air inlet opening 45 formed in the top of the tube 2 and in the valve supporting pad 46 welded thereto. A threaded gag stem 41 coaxially supported in the top of the valve housing 8 is adapted to be manipulated by a handle 48 and when tightened down holds the valve cup 9 in closed position, as will be apparent from Fig. 5. The gag stem does not function in the operation of the nring valve but is provided as a safety feature. When` screwed. down the stem insures that the cup will be held on its seat, both when the boat is operating in rough seas and in the event the tanks 1 were tobe charged at a rate so rapid that the pressure could not build up above the cup at the same speed as it does in the tanks. Fig. 5 shows thev` pad 50 carried at the lower end of the gag stem 41 lifted clear of the piston 9 so that the movement of the latter may be controlled by differential pressures existing above and below the same. It will be noted that when the valve cup 9 is seated, tank pressure can only exert upward force upon that portion of. the lower surface of the cup which projects outwardlybeyondl thevalve seat 44. A portion of the leak-v age of tank pressure into the space above thev valve may take` place through the oriices 52 formed in the skirted wall of the cup. It will accordingly be seen that when the valve is closed and air under tank pressure is admitted to the valve inlet ports 55, the total downward pressure exerted upon the valve considerably exceeds the upward pressure, so long as the tank pressure is not released from thev area above the valve 9.

The vent valve bodyv Illv is attached to the side ofA the valve bodyv 8- and communicates through a passage with the interior of the ring valve body above the valve 9. Details of construction 0fthe vent valveV are best shown in Figs. 8 and 10. The vent valve element I2 is normally held closed by the tank pressure, and it will be seen that the vent valve mustbeopened against such pressure. When the vent valve is opened, the tank pressure is admitted to the valve chamber 62 and connected vent line 22 leading to the stop mechanism. The vent valve is directly actuable by means of` lever I4, pivoted at 64 on an extension of the vent valve casing I0 and bifurcated to, extend' upon either side of the projecting valve stem I2, actuating pins 65 being carried by the lever and projecting into depressions formed by flats (un.- designated) on the exposed end of the valve stem to permit actuation of the latter byA the lever. I The extension section` II of the casing Igll supports the projecting valve stem, and extends, beyond, the lever I4 to provide an Outer: bearing and also to serve as an abutment for the ses nut. 6 6., The. Outer. Surface 0f: the; ses nut is. formed as a. handwheel for.; Convenient 5. manipulation, and a retaining nut 61 is also provided, pinned to the end of the stem. It will be seen that when the gag nut is tightened down, the vent valve is positively held closed, preventing accidental actuation of either the stop mechanism or the tripping mechanism.

To enable actuation of the firing system from a remote point, the lower end of the firing lever I4 projects below its fulcrum Vlill and is engageable by the stem 10 of a hydraulically operable piston 'l2 housed in the casing 13 of the previously mentioned control receiver, supported by and beneath the vent valve housing l as clearly shown in Fig. 10. Tubing 'I5 extends to any suitable actuating means (not shown) whereby hydraulic pressure may be applied to extend the stem 10 and throw the firing lever I4 to the dotted line position of Fig. 10 which results in opening the Vent valve, thereby releasing the pressure above the firing valve in the manner previously described. It will be understood that the actuating mechanism for the hydraulic operating system may be located upon the bridge of the vessel or at any other desired point.

The construction and arrangement of the stop mechanism are clearly shown in Figs. 12 and 13. The vent line 22 is connected to a passage ll formed in an integral portion of the stop piston casing 2| and opening into the interior of said casing below the piston 20, which is vertically slidable. The piston is urged downwardly by a spring 'i9 and carries projecting from its lower extremity the stop pin 3 which is adapted to eX- tend, as shown in Fig. 12, into the socket 8| in the torpedo hull I. The extension portion 20A of the piston which carries the stop pin 3 has a snug sliding iit in the lower portion of the casing 2|, and the piston 25J is similarly iitted in the cylindrical upper portion of the casing, so that air admitted through the opening 11 may tend to raise the piston. A rod 82 rigidly attached to the piston extends slidably upwardly through the piston head 84 and is engageable with a rocker arm 85 keyed to a rock shaft 8l to which a crank 88 is also attached, the crank being pivoted to the link 25. The latch element 3U is provided with a handle 32 accessible from outside the stop assembly to permit manual retraction of the latch when it is desired to permit the piston 20 to descend during resetting of the mechanism after a torpedo has been discharged.

At its rear end the link 25 is articulated to a crank 98 (Fig. 14) att-ached to a rock shaft 92 extending through the interior of the trip mechanisrn housingr 913. Keyed -to the shaft within the housing is a trip lever 95 to which is detachably secured a clevis 9'! formed upon a pitman 96 to the lower end of which, also clevised, the toggle of the torpedo starting gear is adapted to be pinned as indicated at 98. The upper clevis of the pitman is secured to the trip lever by a latch element 99 adapted to be manipulated from above when the cover 93 of the trip casing 94 is removed. By virtue of this arrangement, the pitman may be attached to the toggle 5 of the torpedo starting gear before the torpedo is inserted in the tube. After insertion of the torpedo in the tube, the clevis is lifted into the interior of the casing 94 and latched to the end of trip lever arm 95, by manually swinging back the spring-projected latch piece 99, inserting the pin of clevis 91, and allowing the latch piece to reclose thereover, as shown. All that is then necessary to prepare the apparatus for operation is to release the gagging means for the firing valve and for the vent valve, by manipulation of the hand portions 48, 66.

The invention herein described may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

I claim:

1. A torpedo launching device having a tube from which a torpedo is adapted to be ejected, a single source of iiuid under pressure communicable through an opening with the tube for the ejection of a torpedo contained thereby, torpedo stop means on the tube engaging the torpedo to initially prevent ejection of said torpedo; in combination, a ring valve connected to and operable by pressure fluid from said source, normally closing said opening by pressure from fluid leakage from said source past the firing valve, which valve when closed preventing communication of said source with the tube, a conduit, a primary vent valve interposed between one terminal of the conduit and the firing valve for venting the leakage pressure fluid above the ring valve into the conduit, and a secondary vent valve, said secondary vent valve being operatively connected to the other terminal of the conduit, said secondary vent valve being connected to the stop means and being actuable by said leakage pressure as vented at said secondary vent valve to disengage the stop means from the torpedo, the resulting pressure drop in -the conduit enabling the iiring valve to yield to source pressure for uninhibited escape through said opening.

2. A torpedo launching device having a tube from which a torpedo is adapted to be ejected, a source of fluid under pressure communicable with the tube for the ejection of a torpedo contained thereby; in combination, a conduit, a firing valve connected between the pressure source and the torpedo tube for controlling the admission of pressure fluid to the tube, said valve consisting of a body having a bore merging into a seat surrounding an opening leading to the tube, a valve element in said body slidable in said bore with a loose t so that pressure fluid may leak past the valve element and force said element down on the seat at source pressure, a primary vent valve interposed between one terminal of the conduit and the firing valve, closing leakage pressure iiuid egress from the bore thus maintaining said source pressure upon said valve element but being openable for the release of leakage pressure uid from above the valve element into the conduit, and secondary vent means operatively connected to the other terminal of the conduit, being adapted to preliminary move under the impact of the released leakage .pressure iiuid but initially to limit the aforesaid pressure iiuid release to an extent insufficient to permit unseating of the valve element at source pressure.

3. A torpedo launching device having a tube from which a torpedo is adapted to be ejected, a source of fluid under pressure communicable with the tube for the ejection of a torpedo contained thereby; in combination, a, conduit, a firing valve connected between the pressure source and the torpedo tube for controlling the admission of pressure fluid to the tube, said valve consisting of a body having a bore merging into a seat surrounding an opening leading to the tube, a valve element in said body slidable in said bore with a loose fit so that pressure iiuid may leak past the valve element and force said element down on the seat at source pressure, a

primary `vent valve interposed between one :ter-v minal of the conduit and the firing valve, closing leakage pressure fiuid egress from the bore thus .maintaining said source pressure upon Vsaid valve element but being openable for the release of leakage pressure fluid from above the valve element into the conduit, secondary vent means operatively connected to the other terminal of the conduit, being adapted `to preliminarily move under the impact of the released leakage: pressure fluid but initially to limit the aforesaid pressure fluid released to an extent insufiicient to permit unseating of the valve element at source pressure, and torpedo starting means operatively interconnected with the secondary vent means whereby said starting means is liberated by said preliminary movement of the secondary vent means to perform its starting function while the torpedo remains dormant in the tube.

4. A torpedo launching device having a tube from which a torpedo is adapted to be ejected, a source of fluid under pressure communicable with the tube for the ejection of a torpedo contained thereby; in combination, a firing valve connected between the pressure source and the .torpedo tube for controlling the admission of pressure fluid to the tube, said valve consisting of a body having a bore merging into a seat surrounding an opening leading to the tube, a valve element in said body slidable in said bore with a loose t so that pressure fluid may leak past the valve element and force said element down on the seat at source pressure, a primary vent valve connected to the firing valve, closing leakage pressure fluid egress from the bore thus maintaining said source pressure upon said valve element but being openable for the release of leakage pressure fiuid from above the valve element, and a gag stem pendent in the bore and normally clear of the valve element so as not to obstruct lifting thereof, said gag stem being drivable against said valve element to secure it on its seat at times.

5. A torpedo launching device having a tube from which a torpedo is adapted to be ejected, a source of fluid under pressure communicable through an opening with the tube for the ejection of a torpedo contained thereby, torpedo stop means on the tube engaging the torpedo toinitially prevent ejection of said torpedo, a ring valve connected to and operable by pressure fluid from said source, normally closing said opening by pressure from fluid leakage from said source past the firing valve, which valve when closed preventing communication of said source With the tube;v in combination, a conduit, a primary vent valve interposed between one terminal of the conduit and the. ring valve being openable for venting the leakage pressure fluid above the ring valve into the conduit, a combined stop mechanism and secondary vent valve having a vent port, said valve being operatively connected to the other terminal of the conduit, said mechanism having a stop pin engaging the torpedo to secure it in the tube and having a stop piston by' which the pin is carried said piston closing the vent port and having a groove on its circumference, said stop piston preliminarily Amoving part Way under the impact of the Ireleased leakage pressure fluid to disengage the stop pin from the torpedo and under continued movement uncovering the port to ventsaidleakage pressure fluid for the unseating of the firing valve and the ejection lof rthe torpedo, and a latch included in the.

stop mechanism then entering they groove to retain `the stop piston at the end of the continued. movement.

6.. In a torpedo launching device having a torpedo .tu-be, a source of uid under pressure communicable through an opening with-the tube for the ejection of a torpedo `contained thereby, said torpedo having internal starting gear including an, exposed toggle adapted to be actuated to start the gear, torpedo .stop means on the ktube engaging the torpedo to initially prevent ejection of said torpedo; in combination, a conduit, a ri-ng valve having abore connected between the pressure source andthe torpedo tube for controlling the flow of pressure fluid through said opening, said ring valve including a valve element slidable in said bore with a loose nt for the leakage of sourcer pressure past the valve element into the conduit, secondary vent means to which the stop means is operatively connected, said vent means in turn being operatively connected to one terminal of the conduit, a linkage coupling the secondary vent means to the toggle, and a primary vent valve interposed between the other terminal of the conduit and the firing valve, initially severing communication between the firing valve and the second-ary vent means by Way of the conduit, said primary vent valve being openable to produce the sequences of (la) escape of leakage pressure fluid through the conduit into the secondary vent means, thereby to (b) preliminarily operate the secondary vent means to disengage the stop means from the torpedo and (c) actuate the toggle to start the internal gear while the torpedo is still dormant in the tube and (d) continue operation of the secondary vent means to a permanently open position forfullA venting of the conduit and consequent opening of the firing valve to eject the torpedo'.

STUART C. MILLER,

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,035,647 Shonnard Aug. 13, 1912 1,222,198 Gallagher Apr. 10, 1917 1,304,422 Waddingham et al. May 20, 1919 1,402,745 Dieter Jan. 10, 1922 1,402,746 Dieter Jan. 10, 1922 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 802,587 France May 23, 1935 

